Preview — Miles from Ordinary
by Carol Lynch Williams

Miles from Ordinary

Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother's ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come floodingThirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother's ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control...

Now this award-winning YA author brings us an equally gripping story of a girl who loves her mother, but must face the truth of what life with that mother means for both of them....more

3.5 stars This is a pretty intriguing novel, especially because the events mostly unfold over the course of one day and the story went in directions I didn't quite expect. 14-year-old Lacey has a lot on her plate for someone who's so young; she's trying to pretend everything is normal to the outside world, but in reality, she's dealing with a depressed, unreliable mother and it's starting to take its toll on her. Particularly because her mom still talks to Lacey's dead grandpa as if he were stil3.5 stars This is a pretty intriguing novel, especially because the events mostly unfold over the course of one day and the story went in directions I didn't quite expect. 14-year-old Lacey has a lot on her plate for someone who's so young; she's trying to pretend everything is normal to the outside world, but in reality, she's dealing with a depressed, unreliable mother and it's starting to take its toll on her. Particularly because her mom still talks to Lacey's dead grandpa as if he were still alive.

While I was very interested in the premise and it's certainly a fast read, I think there is perhaps a disconnect between subject, style, content, and intended audience. The novel is very short and the plot is somewhat simple, and because it only touches on the surface of the topics of mental illness, potential foster care, etc., it seems more suited to middle grade fiction or very young YA readers. But then again, I see why this is categorized as young adult fiction, because the first person narrative and book's focus on Lacey's state of mind really would make this appealing to that audience.

This isn't the first time in which mental illness and a horror/thriller have gone hand in hand, but since there was so much focus on the former, without scenarios and solutions that seemed more sound, it became a bit more difficult to stay invested in the story. Some of the dialogue also seemed more juvenile and the events rather overly dramatic, though they certainly contribute to getting a sense of Lacey's possible paranoia and being out of control.

I'll tell you what made this book for me, however: in the last third or so of the book, Lacey's emotions reach a fever pitch in a way that suddenly and masterfully draws in the reader with an unrelenting grip. There is a creepy scene towards the end when your imagination runs wild and you're not quite sure what's real and what's not, and suddenly there is a question in your mind (view spoiler)[as to whether Lacey herself might be crazy, too (hide spoiler)]. That chilling moment alone is worth reading this book for, and it got me very excited about where the story was going. I just wish I had felt more of that intense interest throughout the entire novel.

Still, I'm definitely interested in checking out other books by this author, and I'd recommend this one as a library read if you're curious.

This book literally had me sleeping with the light on. It's not just sad, it's very creepy towards the end. I spent about two thirds of the book thinking it was good and really captured the pain and loneliness of a young girl who is ostracised and has no friends because of the situation with her severely depressed mother. How sometimes she'll come home and find the house empty and have to go out searching for hours until she finds her mum wandering up the street in her nightgown. How she is for

This book literally had me sleeping with the light on. It's not just sad, it's very creepy towards the end. I spent about two thirds of the book thinking it was good and really captured the pain and loneliness of a young girl who is ostracised and has no friends because of the situation with her severely depressed mother. How sometimes she'll come home and find the house empty and have to go out searching for hours until she finds her mum wandering up the street in her nightgown. How she is forced to live with her mum's rantings about granddaddy - a man who died before Lacey (the protagonist) was even born.

That was the first two thirds of the story.

The last third scared the living hell out of me. It was like a weird combination of Poltergeist and Psycho, and the kind of ending that has you listening to every slight sound your house makes as you're trying to fall asleep. This might not be what everyone wants to hear, and probably why the book has quite mixed ratings but - for me - the strongest books stay with me for a long time, they shock me, affect me deeply, they make me feel something even if that something isn't necessarily good. That's what Miles from Ordinary did for me.

I really enjoyed the author's other novel - The Chosen One - but whether you enjoyed that or not doesn't really come into play here. The only vague similarity that the two books share is the creepiness, and that was much more pronounced in this book. Other than that they are very different. Miles from Ordinary focuses much more on the internal struggle of the main character, you find yourself experiencing her sadness and loneliness as the story progresses; where I felt The Chosen One explored the detrimental effects of a certain way of living and the way a whole society behaved, Miles from Ordinary took a close look inside Lacey's mind, it was very sad and very frightening and I'm sure I won't be forgetting this book anytime soon....more

A slight novel, weighing in at just under 200 pages, Miles from Ordinary is exactly what it says on the cover. Sparsely written, stripped back to the bones of Lacey’s narration, there’s not a wasted paragraph or scene here. Every line serves a purpose, contributing to the unsettling tone of the story, and the chilling way in which the plot plays out.

Carol Lynch William’s execution of fourteen-year old Lacey’s voice is excellent, capturing all the anxiety, fear and longing that she experiences duA slight novel, weighing in at just under 200 pages, Miles from Ordinary is exactly what it says on the cover. Sparsely written, stripped back to the bones of Lacey’s narration, there’s not a wasted paragraph or scene here. Every line serves a purpose, contributing to the unsettling tone of the story, and the chilling way in which the plot plays out.

Carol Lynch William’s execution of fourteen-year old Lacey’s voice is excellent, capturing all the anxiety, fear and longing that she experiences during the course of the day the novel covers. At times these shades of emotion blend as Lacey’s desire to protect and yet also be protected come into conflict, and she struggles to reconcile her feelings towards her mentally ill mother.

Shackled by her mother’s personal ghosts, Lacey leads an isolated life. She daydreams about making a friend. Anticipates starting a new job at the library. Tries to take a step toward an ordinary life for herself and her mother. Yet there’s always a note of unease, and the atmosphere of the story begins to shift from hopeful to almost frightening.

The picture of Lacey’s life that emerges through her memories and the events as she relates them is deeply disquieting. While the latter part of the book takes a turn for the suspenseful and rather creepy, it’s Lacey’s mental and emotional response to her mother’s illness that struck me the most. What this book does for awareness and understanding of mental illness, I’m not sure - but the portrayal of a teenage girl attempting to process her conflicted feelings about it felt authentic and moving. There was something very powerful about the emotions this book evoked, watching Lacey begin to grasp the full extent of her mother’s instability.

That said, I can’t help but feel slightly uneasy about the way mental illness is treated in the book. Using it as a device for suspense and even horror feels somewhat unjust, to me, and I was never really comfortable with it once the book kicked into thriller mode. While it certainly packs emotional impact, and brings home exactly how difficult Lacey’s situation is, part of me felt as if the illness had been cast in a role of the villain, which I can’t help but see as harmful.

There’s a note of hope in the conclusion of the story, however, I’m unsure whether this is very effective in bringing more balance and depth to the treatment of mental illness here.

Miles From Ordinary is an unusual, striking book. It’s beautifully written, and the characterisation of Lacey is exceptional.

Heavily atmospheric and haunting, it’s an undeniably compelling read.

Cover note: While I’m not usually a fan of the large, cropped face effect – in this case it has won me over. I find something about the colour scheme and the expression really beautiful, and fitting for the tone of the book.

When I was little, one of my favourite games was the "Exquisite Corpse". No seriously, please read on. I assure you it is child safe.

You play it by drawing part of a creature, say the head and beginning of the torso. Then you fold it over and pass it onto another person to draw another section. Once the entire body is complete comes the exciting unveiling and one could say that the often macabre result does indeed resemble the exquisite body of some un-dead beast.

Miles From Ordinary reminds me oWhen I was little, one of my favourite games was the "Exquisite Corpse". No seriously, please read on. I assure you it is child safe.

You play it by drawing part of a creature, say the head and beginning of the torso. Then you fold it over and pass it onto another person to draw another section. Once the entire body is complete comes the exciting unveiling and one could say that the often macabre result does indeed resemble the exquisite body of some un-dead beast.

Miles From Ordinary reminds me of a game of Exquisite Corpse played out inside Carol Lynch Williams' mind while in both Jekyll and Hyde mode.

Three-quarters of it (the head down to the lower body) is concocted by an unhinged, but coherent author describing a day in the life of young Lacey who in a time of desperation, has signed her severely mentally-ill mother up for a job. They are both in need of money since their inheritance has run out and Lacey is also badly in need of respite away from a woman who constantly draws her into her hallucinatory episodes. Lacey is only thirteen, but she is half an adult, making logical decisions for the both of them, but at the same time she is also a child, unable to grasp the consequences of what will happen if she leads her mother out in the world. I think Lacey is beautifully drawn and I actually enjoyed the slow, languid prose of this section of the book, reflective of Lacey's never-ending ordeal.

The last quarter of the novel (the legs of our Exquisite Corpse) is composed by the author on Mr Hyde overdrive. The book suddenly turns into some sort of full-on-freaky horror story complete with a blackout and cliched creaky stairs. I can understand what Williams is doing, trying to add another layer and getting the reader to ponder the reliability of Lacey's narrative and thus the hereditary nature of mental illness. Pushing toward a showy climax because her editor probably told her she needed to. But...

Even though the story logically flows, there's something about it that doesn't quite fit. And unfortunately I can't offer a solution as to what could be done differently. The last time I played Exquisite Corpse we got a bear in a tutu with chicken feet and much in the same way I am under no authority to tell this tutu-wearing bear what to do with himself, this book...just...is...what it is.

I look at this story and try to see what the Award Givers like about this book. I can see that it tackles a big issue ("mental illness") and it is indeed beautiful in a strange way ("literary").

But then again if I looked through the lens of this book being written by Stephen King, who in a moment of whimsy had decided to write a contemporary YA (channelling the voice of William Faulkner who is somehow moonlighting as a pulp-fiction author) and near the end couldn't help, but burst out as his true self with the sequel to The Dark Half ...then you know, I could also say this was true.

Is this Literary YA... or just a bunch of bad, hokey sounding prose masquerading as Literary YA?

I can't say anything except it and I are both confused. Miles from Ordinary is an Exquisite Corpse in written form, in all respects.

In Williams' MILES FROM ORDINARY, thirteen-year-old Lacey just wants a normal day. Since her aunt left a year ago, Lacey has been forced to take care of her mentally ill mother by herself. In an attempt to gain some freedom and some income for both of them, Lacey gets her mother a job as a cashier while she plans to volunteer at the local library. Hoping against hope that she will have one ordinary day and maybe make a friend in the process, Lacey drops off herGreat concept but uneven execution

In Williams' MILES FROM ORDINARY, thirteen-year-old Lacey just wants a normal day. Since her aunt left a year ago, Lacey has been forced to take care of her mentally ill mother by herself. In an attempt to gain some freedom and some income for both of them, Lacey gets her mother a job as a cashier while she plans to volunteer at the local library. Hoping against hope that she will have one ordinary day and maybe make a friend in the process, Lacey drops off her mother at the grocery store. When Lacey later discovers that her mother is missing, her world begins to quickly spiral out of control.

Despite the affecting subject matter, MILES FROM ORDINARY didn't grab me as I had hoped. The topic squarely put the novel in the young adult category, but the writing and the young voice seemed more appropriate for middle grades. Because of this, I'm unsure of whether the book will find the right fit with its intended audience. Pacing was slow throughout much of the novel, but the final 30 pages became fast-paced and downright terror-filled. Though engaging, this quick shift in tone and style didn't mesh with the rest of the book. Events became unexplainable during these final pages too, in a way that made the events unbelievable. When the story does wrap up, it does so too quickly and too easily. Further, while the book accurately portrays that mental illness can lead to horrible ends, it does so in a way that I fear may unfairly stigmatize mental illness as being a condition that frequently leads to hurting others.

On the positive side, I appreciated that Williams was willing to tackle an important issue like mental illness and how it affects children. Written in first-person, present tense, the novel movingly depicted the constant worries and stresses that Lacey endured as a child trying to take care of an unstable parent. Also, while the book was slow to start, the tension really ratcheted up at the end, and I found myself truly frightened and unsettled while reading the final pages.

Though mental illness remains a neglected and overlooked topic in literature and in society, I'm disappointed to report that I felt this book didn't add a great deal to its understanding. Even with these qualms, I plan to read Williams' THE CHOSEN ONE to see how she handles another explosive and frightening topic, that of forced polygamy.

Lacey is, on the outside, your everyday 14 year old girl. At home, however, she's the sole caregiver for her mother who is plagued every day by paranoia, delusions and bipolar tendencies. Lacey loves her mother more than anything in the world, but she relishes the time away from her mother - those little moments where she can be herself and be a teenager. She is excited for a summer full of the little joys in life. She wants sleepovers, trips to the library and an escape from her mother's delusiLacey is, on the outside, your everyday 14 year old girl. At home, however, she's the sole caregiver for her mother who is plagued every day by paranoia, delusions and bipolar tendencies. Lacey loves her mother more than anything in the world, but she relishes the time away from her mother - those little moments where she can be herself and be a teenager. She is excited for a summer full of the little joys in life. She wants sleepovers, trips to the library and an escape from her mother's delusions of her dead father visiting her...but dreams are hard to hold onto when reality is far from happy.

I've yet to read anything by the author, Carol Lynch Williams, but people have sung the praises of her other book, The Chosen One. The premise of Miles From Ordinary captured me, and despite being wary of a younger MC narrating the story, I was hopeful for the best. Carol Lynch Williams nailed Lacey's voice with a raw, insightful and powerful look into a young girl's mind as she tries to hold both her life and her mother's life together. Pieced together with stark and simple prose, a haunting background and a setting that sets a scene of its own, Miles From Ordinary is one of those stories that resonates real feeling from every page.

Lacey's story begins with a bang. Her nightmares are real, and her reality is somewhat of a nightmare, too, so Miles From Ordinary captured me from the get-go. Lacey, though young, had a distinct voice and take on her life situation. She's strong, but she has a vulnerability about her that makes the sadness of the story that much more tangible. Lacey's mother, Angela, had me hating her, pitying her and loving her all at the same time. Her illness was a character of sorts, as well, spinning the struggles into every bit of Lacey's story. Gripping and realistic, Lacey's struggle to find her mother, both literally and figuratively was captivating.

I have to admit, though I was excited for Miles From Ordinary, I was still worried that it would live up to the premise. However, it definitely exceeded all my expectations. I cried for Lacey and her mother, and I felt myself rooting for a happy ending the whole time. I give this book a firm 5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA and even adult fiction, especially those who enjoy contemporary stories.

I received this ARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book....more

This is my first experience with Williams and I had high hopes and high expectations, but there were several things about it that didn't work for me. For starters, the voice was wrong. Despite the main character being 14 years old, her voice is so juvenile. Even if she had to deal with a mentally ill mother and a complete lack of social integration at school because of it, she'd still be less childish than this girl. I wanted included in the mix of emotions anger and embarrassment, something morThis is my first experience with Williams and I had high hopes and high expectations, but there were several things about it that didn't work for me. For starters, the voice was wrong. Despite the main character being 14 years old, her voice is so juvenile. Even if she had to deal with a mentally ill mother and a complete lack of social integration at school because of it, she'd still be less childish than this girl. I wanted included in the mix of emotions anger and embarrassment, something more than utter devotion, something a little more appropriate for the age. Maybe for an 11-year-old I could believe the voice--and it is a strong voice which is a risk I appreciate Williams for taking--but the voice read too much like middle grade.

For most of the book, the plot also moved too slowly to grab me. A slow voice, lots of internal dialogue, and every few paragraphs interrupted by memory, and the day dragged. Despite the book being a very quick read, it took me 4 days to finish because I was never anxious to pick it up until the last 50 or so pages. While I found the climax chilling, I had some believability issues up until that point that kept it from striking me the way it should have. (view spoiler)[I didn't believe a 14-year-old girl would shout "I love you" to her mother on a public bus. I didn't believe she'd be angry at her aunt for leaving when she was escorted off the property by police by a restraining order. I didn't believe the police would issue that restraining order when her mother was so clearly mentally ill. I know these situations fall through the cracks all the time, but where her aunt was fighting to help Lacey, someone would have investigated her living situation and found it highly unsuitable. (hide spoiler)]

It was only at the ending that I felt something grow from Lacey's experience that made me sad at the novel that could have been. The climax twisted around a lot of the issues I had, but I'd struggled with them so much of the novel that it was too late to fix it by mistrusting Lacey's account at that point. The idea is strong and I could tell from the writing that Williams is very talented, and I appreciate her tackling mental illness, but it didn't flow from beautifully literary into enlightening and thrilling ending the way she was attempting....more

Absorbing, but deeply flawed. This book is at its strongest when exploring Lacey's life with her profoundly mentally ill mother. (Her mother's condition is never definitively diagnosed. Depression is mentioned in passing, but her mother also experiences vivid auditory hallucinations and paranoia, which made me think schizophrenia.) Unfortunately, Williams verges into outright horror movie territory towards the end, and it really doesn't help the story at all. It also doesn't help that Lacey sounAbsorbing, but deeply flawed. This book is at its strongest when exploring Lacey's life with her profoundly mentally ill mother. (Her mother's condition is never definitively diagnosed. Depression is mentioned in passing, but her mother also experiences vivid auditory hallucinations and paranoia, which made me think schizophrenia.) Unfortunately, Williams verges into outright horror movie territory towards the end, and it really doesn't help the story at all. It also doesn't help that Lacey sounds slightly immature for a fourteen year old in her circumstances, or the general too-good-to-be-true nature of new neighbor Aaron. Yes, introducing an outside perspective does show just how much Lacey has been lying to herself about her mother's condition, but did that outside perspective have to come in the form of a cute, effortlessly cool and endlessly understanding boy? ...more

Powerful would be an understatement. Miles From Ordinary goes where other young adult books seldom go as it explores the world of mental illness.

Lacey is a young teen whose dream of a normal life is not realistic because she is the caregiver to her mentally ill mother. Facing this serious situation, Lacey is forced to grow up quickly. I found myself completely drawn into Lacey’s world. A world of fear and vulnerability – love and family bonds.

Carol Lynch Williams slowly drops bits of the past inPowerful would be an understatement. Miles From Ordinary goes where other young adult books seldom go as it explores the world of mental illness.

Lacey is a young teen whose dream of a normal life is not realistic because she is the caregiver to her mentally ill mother. Facing this serious situation, Lacey is forced to grow up quickly. I found myself completely drawn into Lacey’s world. A world of fear and vulnerability – love and family bonds.

Carol Lynch Williams slowly drops bits of the past into her story. She lets the reader discover why Lacey’s mother has become the way she has and why Lacey’s aunt left them. This is probably my favorite part of reading Miles From Ordinary – the beautiful way this disturbing story is laid out and presented.

The ending is horrific and it was difficult for me to get through. I am so thankful that my life is not like Lacey’s. I have a whole new respect for people who suffer from a mental illness.

RATING

4 Liked

COVER COMMENTS

An extreme close-up of Lacey where she seems to be in disbelief. Her disheveled hair shows the uncertainty of her life. Yeah, I like it....more

Wow, this book was really good. But also, extremely different. Let's start off by saying that the only thing keeping me from giving this book a 5/5 stars was because at parts, I was really confused. I wasn't really sure what was going on, and although I know it's pretty obvious at the end, the author was still not straight forward as to what exactly was going on with Lacey's mother. Clearly, some type of schizophrenia, I'm assuming, or just straight out crazy.

Other than that, this book was so goWow, this book was really good. But also, extremely different. Let's start off by saying that the only thing keeping me from giving this book a 5/5 stars was because at parts, I was really confused. I wasn't really sure what was going on, and although I know it's pretty obvious at the end, the author was still not straight forward as to what exactly was going on with Lacey's mother. Clearly, some type of schizophrenia, I'm assuming, or just straight out crazy.

Other than that, this book was so good. With it being on 197 pages, it was definitely a quick read that got right into the plotline from the start.

It was filled with flashbacks and stories of Lacey's past, that really helped to understand the book better.

I'm honestly really impressed with the work of Carol Lynch Williams. I'm going to def be picking up more of her novels, because i'm really loving the way she writes, and the interesting stories she comes up with. ...more

I had high expectations for this book. I am in a book club for adults who read "children's" literature. We are reading twelve book this month (this was number eight for me), four contenders for the Caldecott, four contenders for the Newbery, and four for the Printz. This was one of the books we will be discussing as a Printz contender. My expectations for this book were quickly dashed - no way will this win the Printz, in my humble opinion. I am not sure why it was include on our list.

While I adI had high expectations for this book. I am in a book club for adults who read "children's" literature. We are reading twelve book this month (this was number eight for me), four contenders for the Caldecott, four contenders for the Newbery, and four for the Printz. This was one of the books we will be discussing as a Printz contender. My expectations for this book were quickly dashed - no way will this win the Printz, in my humble opinion. I am not sure why it was include on our list.

While I admire the book's author, Carol Lynch Williams, for taking on the important topic of mental illness, I think the topic is done better in books such as "Crazy" by Han Nolan or "Dirty Little Secrets" by C.J. Omololu. As with the main characters in "Crazy" and "Dirty Little Secrets," the main character here (Lacey) takes on the terrific responsibility of caring for a mentally ill parent when those around her either die, bail, don't notice, or choose not to notice - and the "system" fails her. Her life is truly "miles from ordinary." Because she is a child, and her mother is a person she loves, she tries to do it all herself with no professional help, knowing in her heart of hearts that her mother will be taken away if she doesn't take care of her. She also suffers socially as a result of her family secrets. She is bullied and has no friends. "Miles from Ordinary" takes place over the course of one day, a day which begins so hopefully. On this particular day, Lacey is hopeful because she has convinced her mother, Angela, to take a job at the Winn Dixie (they need the money to survive). She herself has taken a volunteer position at the local library in the hopes of finding something there of her Aunt Linda who left Lacey and her mother when her mother insisted that she go. On the way to work, she meets a neighbor boy who is empathetic and appears to want to be her friend. Aaron meets her after work and when they show up to meet Lacey's mother after her first day on the job, and her mother isn't there.

Why will "Miles from Ordinary" not win a Printz honor? To begin with, the first two-thirds of the book are torturously slow in terms of pacing. Once Angela goes missing, the pace picks up, and the book becomes much more compelling. I am not convinced that many teens will stick with it to this point, however. The story almost becomes a horror story at this point, Stephen King like in the last fifty pages or so. It seemed to switch from realistic fiction to a completely different book. Secondly,I am not convinced that someone like Aunt Linda, who seems so caring and loving, would leave a child with someone so mentally incompetent, not fight like hell to get the child that she loves out of that situation, and not try harder to check up on that child to be certain she is O.K. The character of Aaron also didn't ring true for me. Though I want to believe there are teens who could be so open, empathetic, and unconcerned about what others think - he was way over the top in this regard. And when Angela disappears and he goes into the home and sees all of those bizarre things, he wouldn't freak out and tell his mom? And she wouldn't call the authorities? He didn't have credulity. Finally, the protagonist didn't always ring true. She seemed very young and naive for a fourteen year old.

Though I would recommend this book for certain readers, it doesn't belong on "best" lists for 2011, and certainly is not of Printz caliber....more

I truly think it was the cover that first attracted me to Miles From Ordinary. There's just something about it makes it difficult for me to tear my eyes away... from the tendrils of hair slightly falling into Lacey's face to the way her mouth is slightly agape. It left me to ponder what the girl was facing and even after reading the short plot summary, I was still incredibly intrigued to learn more about the girl behind the face so to speak!

It was supposed to be a summer day full of promise. LacI truly think it was the cover that first attracted me to Miles From Ordinary. There's just something about it makes it difficult for me to tear my eyes away... from the tendrils of hair slightly falling into Lacey's face to the way her mouth is slightly agape. It left me to ponder what the girl was facing and even after reading the short plot summary, I was still incredibly intrigued to learn more about the girl behind the face so to speak!

It was supposed to be a summer day full of promise. Lacey's mother had seemed to somewhat to put her aside her ghosts to be coherent enough to begin her day working at the grocery store, earning money the pair of them so very much needed. As for Lacey herself, she was ready for the chance to spend a few hours away from her mother volunteering at the local public library where her Aunt Linda used to work. But soon, what started out as a day full of so much hope begins to spiral out of control...

The novel is a quick, short read yet it still felt like it was the right length. Within a short span of time, we learn so much about Lacey, her mother and the aunt who's no longer a dominant part of their lives anymore. The pacing is easy to follow along and Carol Lynch Williams does a wonderful subtle job switching to flashback scenes of moments in their past. It's during these times that we learn the full extent of just how long Lacey's mother has been sick and how compared to the past, it really does seem that her mother is finally beginning to show some signs of improving. When I found myself drawing closer and closer to the end, I grew nervous because I still had no idea what I could expect!

Lacey shows more strength and perseverance than I could ever expect from a thirteen year-old girl. She's the sole caregiver of her mentally ill mother, taking care of her constantly day and night. Although it stings for her to not have a friend she can confide in since she spends so much time watching her, she loves her mom with every bone in her body and would do anything for her. So even though she knows something is obviously wrong, she's afraid to actually on it and get help... preferring to pretend that everything is alright. She feels both guilty and excited about her new volunteering job at the library because it may finally give her a few hours of peace and time for herself to simply act as a normal teenager.

Miles From Ordinary may be a short contemporary read but within its pages is a story that will instantly reach out to your heart. Carol Lynch Williams has beautifully written a novel full of tension and the struggles of a young girl doing everything she possibly can to look after her mother... leaving off on a climatic ending that I'm sure will leave some gasping. I know I sure did!...more

I didn't know what to expect from this story. Having no prior reading experience of Carol Lynch Williams, I was intrigued with praises of her writing but still clueless. After reading Miles from Ordinary, I can say that I will be singing her praises as well.

Whatever I may have been thinking this book was, it was not. The story is beautifully written and so moving. It was also set in only one day's time, which was amazing to me. You'd think something like that wouldn't be able to live up to suchI didn't know what to expect from this story. Having no prior reading experience of Carol Lynch Williams, I was intrigued with praises of her writing but still clueless. After reading Miles from Ordinary, I can say that I will be singing her praises as well.

Whatever I may have been thinking this book was, it was not. The story is beautifully written and so moving. It was also set in only one day's time, which was amazing to me. You'd think something like that wouldn't be able to live up to such high expectations in such a short timeline, but it far exceeds that with flashbacks of Lacey's past helping to guide you and help you understand. Did I mention it's nothing like I thought it would be?

Lacey's story goes from heart-wrenching to haunting in the span of the book. Despite everything, you can't help but feel sorry for her and wish that she could have a typical carefree, happy childhood like all the other kids her age. Nevertheless, she's a strong character with an equally strong voice. I was hesitant at first with the main character being younger, but Williams did an incredible job with her voice. Lacey's aunt was a character I also thought was completely selfish, but when the flashbacks reveal more of the story, we see more of why each of the characters are the way they are. I'm not saying I completely agree with every character's actions, though the flashbacks help to understand them better than what I had originally thought.

At the very beginning, I struggled a little to get into the story. I think maybe it was the accent of the character and the way she talked? I'm not sure. But my attention was caught very soon after and it wasn't long before I was finishing the book with white knuckles and a sore heart. This book is eerie, to say the least. It's contemporary - and a fine one at that - but I'd also put it in the psychological thriller category as well. If you like either of those, I'm positive you'll love this book....more

Thirteen year old Lacey just wants an ordinary life... shoot, she'll even settle for just one ordinary day. It's her first day of work at the library and, although she's excited to begin work at one of her favorite places and the chance at following in her aunt's footsteps, she still finds herself worried over her momma. For it is also her momma's first day of work as cashier at the Winn-Dixie.

She hopes for an ordinary day where they both go to work and meet back up on the bus route. But nothinThirteen year old Lacey just wants an ordinary life... shoot, she'll even settle for just one ordinary day. It's her first day of work at the library and, although she's excited to begin work at one of her favorite places and the chance at following in her aunt's footsteps, she still finds herself worried over her momma. For it is also her momma's first day of work as cashier at the Winn-Dixie.

She hopes for an ordinary day where they both go to work and meet back up on the bus route. But nothing is ordinary in Lacey's life. For her day takes an unexpected turn and you slowly begin to realize just how not ordinary Lacey's life truly is.

As a big fan of Ms. Lynch Williams' The Chosen One, I knew Miles from Ordinary would be a powerful and thought-provoking story. The whole story takes place throughout the span of one day in Lacey's life. With tons of flashbacks you get a feel for the background of these characters and just how big Lacey's responsibilities as the caregiver for her mother are.

At a little over 200 pages this was a very quick read. I sat down and read the whole story through. My only complaint is that it did have a slow start but yet I found myself captivated by the young Lacey's voice. You know from the start that something is not right and you find the intrigue and mystery of it all to be a real page turner. By the story's conclusion I was terrified. I think Ms. Lynch Williams did a phenomenal job in describing someone suffering from mental illness. The paranoia, the delusions - I had moments where I wondered if something was real or not... it was all very well done.

While I didn't love this one as much as I did The Chosen One, it was still a riveting read. Carol Lynch Williams has beautifully written a novel that will touch your heart. It is a unique and interesting contemporary story that will leave you feeling haunted....more

This was a very suspenseful book which looks into the life of a family that has to deal with mental illness.

Lacey is her mother's caregiver. Her mother is literally suffering from major mental illness. Her mother believes that the ghost of Lacey's grandfather is helping them by telling her how to keep Lacey and herself safe. Lacey's life consists of trying to soothe and talk her mother into calming down and trying to get her out of the bad place iReviewed at http:www.nightlyreading.wordpress.com

This was a very suspenseful book which looks into the life of a family that has to deal with mental illness.

Lacey is her mother's caregiver. Her mother is literally suffering from major mental illness. Her mother believes that the ghost of Lacey's grandfather is helping them by telling her how to keep Lacey and herself safe. Lacey's life consists of trying to soothe and talk her mother into calming down and trying to get her out of the bad place in her mind and bring her back to reality. Lacey has no friends and literally goes to school and straight home to take care of mom.

The whole story takes place in one single day. Lacey has convinced her mother to get a job so that Lacey, herself could have a few hours to volunteer at the library. The plan was set and Lacey made sure her mother would know where to meet her when finished and where to go.

Throughout the book, Lacey flashes back to when times seemed better. Her aunt used to live with them until her mother kicked her out and Lacey dreams of seeing her Aunt again.

Lacey's day is not going too bad, she even makes a friend. Until, she goes to pick up mom and realizes that her mother has disappeared and she really needs to find her!

The book was a short read which starts off fairly slow with a huge climax at the end. The writer did do a very good job at painting a picture of poor Lacey's life, giving up everything to take care of her mother.

This is a powerful, thought provoking book. It may not seem like it just by reading the blurb, or even when you first start the book, but your thoughts will still be churning long after you turn the last page. Miles from Ordinary shines light on something that most people don't think about, unless you are in that situation yourself. Living with someone who is mentally ill.

Lacy's Mom has always been "Not right", but she is getting worse and worse and the money is running out. The book takes placeThis is a powerful, thought provoking book. It may not seem like it just by reading the blurb, or even when you first start the book, but your thoughts will still be churning long after you turn the last page. Miles from Ordinary shines light on something that most people don't think about, unless you are in that situation yourself. Living with someone who is mentally ill.

Lacy's Mom has always been "Not right", but she is getting worse and worse and the money is running out. The book takes place all in one day, the day that Lacy is starting her new job at the library and her Mom is starting a new job at the Winn Dixie. The story unravels from there. The first 100 pages were a little slow, but the last 100 pages more than make up for it.

As Lacy goes through her day she is bombarded with memories and flashbacks of things that her mother has done. That all comes to a climax in the last half. I was literally on the edge of my seat for the last half of this book. I was right there with Lacy as she struggled to figure out what her mother would do next. I felt all of her emotions and I was a little exhausted and breathless when it was all over.

This is a scary book because it is so real. Kids and teens are put in these situations all the time. It will stay on your mind for days after you finish it and I highly recommend it if you are a fan of books that deal with tough situations....more

I am torn between a 3 or 4 star rating. The book was slow paced but kept me wondering what was going ot happen next, I just felt like the ending was a bit vague and left too open. I really enjoyed Carol Williams other book, The Chosen One, much more so I thought I would give this one a try too.

The enitre 197 page book is set in one day. Lacey and her mentally crazy mother both get jobs, and Lacey is excited to get some free time away from her crazy mother. Most of the book is a little heartwernI am torn between a 3 or 4 star rating. The book was slow paced but kept me wondering what was going ot happen next, I just felt like the ending was a bit vague and left too open. I really enjoyed Carol Williams other book, The Chosen One, much more so I thought I would give this one a try too.

The enitre 197 page book is set in one day. Lacey and her mentally crazy mother both get jobs, and Lacey is excited to get some free time away from her crazy mother. Most of the book is a little heartwernching since Lacey is only 14 and taking care of her mother, but there is hope towards the end. There is a smigen of paranormal/ghosts in the book which was a suprise compared to how first half of the book went. The book flashes back in time then starts up again at present time. Sometimes if was difficult to pick in the author was in past or present tense. Also, I really really dislike endings that are left open to the readers interpretation.

I would recommend this book to read, its a very quick short story. ...more

Lacey isn't your average teenager; she has a huge responsibility that is often overwhelming. Lacey takes care of her mom who suffers from a severe mental illness. This summer all Lacey wants is to be normal and work in the library while her mom starts her new job as a cashier at the local grocery store. Lacey spends most of her time worrying if her mom can handle this new job or if she is going to crack under the pressure; after all, they need the money. Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch WilliaLacey isn't your average teenager; she has a huge responsibility that is often overwhelming. Lacey takes care of her mom who suffers from a severe mental illness. This summer all Lacey wants is to be normal and work in the library while her mom starts her new job as a cashier at the local grocery store. Lacey spends most of her time worrying if her mom can handle this new job or if she is going to crack under the pressure; after all, they need the money. Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams is a powerful read. Williams knows how to grip the hearts of her readers and not let go until the end.

This story is a quick read and is told in only one intense day. However, Williams is such a brilliant writer. She is able to clue the readers in slowly regarding Lacey's background and experiences through flashbacks and memories embedded into the present day. Slowly, the horrible truth that is Lacey's life is revealed and readers can't help but feel invested in her life. I was gripping the novel and sweating towards the end! It was hard to read the second half, but I had to know what was going to happen to Lacey.

Williams, the author of The Chosen One, doesn't write mindless books that you bring to the beach and zone out with. She writes memorable novels that are evocative and make readers think and feel. For example, I was so frustrated with Lacey's aunt. Seriously. I was having a hard time with her. I kept wondering why she left Lacey with her mom, who is deteriorating quickly, but through very effective flashbacks, the truth of the matter is revealed. There are some moments that are pretty violent and intense; in fact, if you aren't a fan of psychological thrillers, I'd skip this one.

I also kept thinking about certain students I've had through the years and their home lives. As teachers we expect students to focus in class, do their homework, complete projects on time, etc, etc, but sometimes we learn the truth about a student's home life that is very similar to Lacey's and I can't help but think about how a homework assignment really doesn't matter. This kid is just trying to survive! It breaks my heart how some children will never get to experience a carefree childhood, but one thing is for sure, Miles From Ordinary not only made me reflect, it tugged at my heart as well. It's such a haunting tale.

While this book isn't as good as The Chosen One, it is still a riveting tale that will leave readers breathless as only Williams can do. Williams is such a captivating writer and if you are looking for an absorbing story to read this spring, you must pick up Miles From Ordinary. In fact, I am hosting a giveaway this week, thanks to St. Martin's, so keep your eye out for it!...more

I had extremely high hopes for Miles From Ordinary considering that I loved The Chosen One. That book was deep, shocking, and heartwrenching. I remember sobbing for a half hour after I finished The Chosen One about three hours after I started it. I expected the same thing from Miles From Ordinary and ultimately, I ended up a tad bit disappointed.

I'm going to start out by saying that Miles From Ordinary starts out sloooowwww, like really, really, really slow. I took me about three days to get thrI had extremely high hopes for Miles From Ordinary considering that I loved The Chosen One. That book was deep, shocking, and heartwrenching. I remember sobbing for a half hour after I finished The Chosen One about three hours after I started it. I expected the same thing from Miles From Ordinary and ultimately, I ended up a tad bit disappointed.

I'm going to start out by saying that Miles From Ordinary starts out sloooowwww, like really, really, really slow. I took me about three days to get through the first 50 pages. It just didn't hook me at first and I kept wanting to put it down. It was like pulling teeth for me. Sure, it was mildly interesting, but I guess there was a disconnect between me and the protagonist that prevented me from making any true headway until after the initial 60 or so pages.

That's another issue I had with Miles from Ordinary. The voice of the protagonist was a bit...off. She seemed a bit on the juvenile side even for thirteen. I kept forgetting she was thirteen and thinking she was about ten or eleven. I understand that dealing with her mentally ill mother must have stunted her growth a bit, but I just expect a thirteen year old to be a little bit more...aware than Lacey was. Oh, and I totally didn't buy (mild spoiler here) the whole thing with Linda not being able to help Lacey because the mom kept kicking her out. If Linda had made a big deal about not wanting Lacey to be with her mom because of her initial depression, chances are Child Protective Services would've gotten involved. Maybe they wouldn't have initially snatched the child, but it would've been enough of an issue to have them, at the very least, make an unannounced visit to check out that everything was fine. That, of course, would've proved that everything wasn't fine and Linda would've had a good chance to keep Lacey. (end of mild spoiler)

Besides my issues with the book, I do have to say that the last 40 pages or so of Miles From Ordinary were filled with tension. In fact, the last chapters were absolutely terrifying. I really felt for Lacey there and have no idea how she managed to keep semi-calm because there's no way in hell I would've been calm. I would have been freaking out immensely. So, all in all, I thought that Miles From Ordinary was just okay. It didn't compare at all to The Chosen One and was a bit uneven. I'm not sure that the last fifty pages make up for it....more

At the age of thirteen, would you care for your ailing mother on your own? Could you endure your classmates and the whispers around town? Lacey has been putting up with it for years and although things haven't been as bad as they've been before--for her mother--it's a far cry from the road to recovery. When summer comes, Lacey manages to convince her mother to apply for a job as a cashier at the local grocery store and she applies to work at the library over the summer. And although she loves boAt the age of thirteen, would you care for your ailing mother on your own? Could you endure your classmates and the whispers around town? Lacey has been putting up with it for years and although things haven't been as bad as they've been before--for her mother--it's a far cry from the road to recovery. When summer comes, Lacey manages to convince her mother to apply for a job as a cashier at the local grocery store and she applies to work at the library over the summer. And although she loves books, it's not the reason behind why she decided to work at the library; her aunt Linda is the reason behind this decision. Why? Because she used to work at Peace City Library and Lacey is hoping to see her again. The reason behind why she hasn't seen her aunt is, well, her mother. Lacey's mother drove her out of the house and thus, their lives for the most part.

The entire story takes place over the course of a single day--with flashbacks and memories as well, but the bulk of events transpire on a single day--and what a day it is. I won't go into details because it'd give a lot away, but let's just say that it has to have been one of the most stressful days in Lacey's young life. Lacey herself is extremely strong as she's been dealing with her mother for years and having her aunt forced away hasn't exactly made things any easier. She wants to have friends and to have a normal life, but she accepts her situation and deals with it as best she can. Her mother hears and sees Lacey's grandfather and will often tell Lacey that her grandfather told her to do something or that her grandfather wouldn't like it. The thing is, Lacey's grandfather is dead which means that well, her mother's ghosts is quite literally a ghost. I really can't say much more than that without spoiling things for you, so I'll just say one more thing; there is a scene in this book that translated Lacey's fear so well that I didn't want to read about what she saw--although obviously I did and it did play a big part in the ending.

Miles from Ordinary isn't a particularly long read, but if the plot sounds like your sort of thing or you're intrigued, I'd suggest picking up a copy to read. It did take a turn several times that I had not been expecting and the ending was, in my opinion, the perfect outcome....more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.Lacey (14) lives with her mom, who suffers from extreme depression and delusions (she believes that her father, who hung himself in her closet, is still keeping tabs on her – telling her what to do). When their money runs out, Lacey convinces her mom to get a job as a checker at the grocery store. She’s really hoping they can have a normal life and that contact with the outside world will make her mother stronger and help her to overcome her mental illness. Most of all, Lacey wants to volunteerLacey (14) lives with her mom, who suffers from extreme depression and delusions (she believes that her father, who hung himself in her closet, is still keeping tabs on her – telling her what to do). When their money runs out, Lacey convinces her mom to get a job as a checker at the grocery store. She’s really hoping they can have a normal life and that contact with the outside world will make her mother stronger and help her to overcome her mental illness. Most of all, Lacey wants to volunteer at the local library, where her Aunt Linda was a children’s librarian up until her sister (Lacey’s mom) kicked her out of their house and out of their lives. Lacey wants to find a friend, someone to talk to and laugh with – someone who doesn’t think she’s a freak because of her mom. On the first day of her mom’s new job (also Lacey’s first day at the library) she meets Aaron (a boy from school) on the bus. He seems really interested in getting to know her, and Lacey decides she could definitely have a boy for a friend. Everything falls apart, however, when they discover that Lacey’s mom quit her job after only an hour and appears to be missing. Aaron, remarkably, doesn’t judge Lacey by her mom’s behavior and sticks by her side until she’s able to contact her aunt. But Aunt Linda is almost too late – Lacey’s mom is waiting for Lacey, waiting to carry out Granddaddy’s final instructions.

This is chilling because it’s realistic and possible. Lacey is so angry with Aunt Linda for leaving her behind (even though her mother got a restraining order against her) – and rightly so. She knew what was going on and didn’t push hard enough to get Lacey’s mother declared mentally incompetent. Lacey was basically abandoned to deal with a potentially dangerous situation on her own. It’s a little hard to believe that Aaron (that anyone) having just met Lacey (even though he’s known her from a distance for awhile) is so understanding about her situation. When she’s worrying about her mom, Lacey sounds almost as unhinged as her mom does. Most casual acquaintances would bail after getting a taste of Lacey’s problems. Still, this quick, suspenseful read will keep readers glued to its pages until the very end....more

Personal response: I loved this book Miles from Ordinary, because it describes how it is to have everyone leave you and you have to take care of your sick mom and run after her just to find her.Plot: This book started out with lacey getting called into her mom’s room to help her get her dead granddaddy out. Later in this book they foreshadow back to when Lacey’s mom kicked her out of the house. Lacey got a job at the library where her aunt used to work, and her mom got a job at the store Winn DiPersonal response: I loved this book Miles from Ordinary, because it describes how it is to have everyone leave you and you have to take care of your sick mom and run after her just to find her.Plot: This book started out with lacey getting called into her mom’s room to help her get her dead granddaddy out. Later in this book they foreshadow back to when Lacey’s mom kicked her out of the house. Lacey got a job at the library where her aunt used to work, and her mom got a job at the store Winn Dixcey. On the bus on their way to work together Lacey seen a kid from her class at school. She was so nervous that he would see her. Every once in a while they would catch glances at each other. Lacey and her mom agreed to meet back at the bus stop at four. Lacey’s mom got off of the bus and went to work while Lacey stayed so she didn’t have to walk far from the store to get to the library. Aaron the boy from her class moved from the back of the bus all the way up behind her. They talked the whole way to the Library and he even got off with her. Later in the story Lacey and Aaron met up to go to the bus stop together to meet her mom, but when they got there she wasn’t there. They went to the store to see if she was there and they found out that she had quit right when she got there that morning. So they went home to see if she was there. When they got to the house every window and door was open and all the lights where on. That never happened when her mom was home, everything was always closed or shut off. They kept searching until Lacey got so worried she called her aunt. Her aunt took forever to get there by the time she did, she had found her dead granddaddy and her mom. Her mom wanted to die so she can be with her dad and she wanted lacey to go with her and kill herself where her dad had died but lacey wouldn’t he room and granddaddy forced her but her aunt showed up in time to make them stop. In the end her mom ended up getting help and lacey went with her aunt.Recommendation: I would recommend this book to any one of any age. It shows the mystery that happens when one of your family members are mentally ill And you can’t handle it on your own so you get help and so the family member....more

Miles from Ordinary is an extremely powerful and heart-breaking novel of one young girls struggle to care for her ailing mother and the impact that's had on her life.

Lacey is a shy, brave and mentally strong young girl who's basically slowly falling apart. The weight of the responsibility she's been carrying has made her wary of new people or asking others for help. She believes she must care for her mother all on her own or risk losing everything. I felt so sympathetic for Lacey since she's hadMiles from Ordinary is an extremely powerful and heart-breaking novel of one young girls struggle to care for her ailing mother and the impact that's had on her life.

Lacey is a shy, brave and mentally strong young girl who's basically slowly falling apart. The weight of the responsibility she's been carrying has made her wary of new people or asking others for help. She believes she must care for her mother all on her own or risk losing everything. I felt so sympathetic for Lacey since she's had to grow up very quickly and constantly lives in a state of fear. At the same time though, I was equally frustrated that Lacey didn't always allow others to help her. I realize she's young and trying to protect her mother but as a mother myself, it just broke my heart.

The story moves very quickly and the entire novel takes place during the course of one day. Much of it is told through Lacey's memories of the past, which are triggered by the different places she goes or things she sees. At times I admit to being a bit confused on whether or not we were in the past or present, but I'm also very glad the novel is told this way, since it help deepen Lacey character and explain how her life ended up the way it did.

The character of Aaron was one of the main reasons I think I ended up liking the book as much as I did. He never once judges Lacey's situation, even if he doesn't completely understand it and continues to help her when she desperately needs someone to believe in. He also allows Lacey to see what her life is like from an outsiders point-of-view.

Several times I thought perhaps I wouldn't finish the book. Not because it was poorly written or had unlikeable characters, but because of its realistic portrayal of how mental illness effects a person and their family. Some of the scenes between Lacey and her mother are so hard to read that I not only became extremely angry and heart-broken but also quite nausea.

A novel so moving its to the point of desperation, Miles from Ordinary is certainly not a story for everyone but its definitely an important one nevertheless. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction with an emphasis on mental, social and family issues as it tackles all three subjects very honestly. ...more

Em's Review: Lacey lives with her mom and the ghost of her granddad (no, this isn’t paranormal fiction), but feels alone in the world. Since her Aunt Linda left, Lacey has had to serve as caretaker for her mother whose mental illness keeps her from living independently. But her mom has seemed better lately, and Lacey has convinced her to start working at the local grocery store. Lacey is excited to start a summer job of her own as well – at the library where her Aunt Linda used to work. On the fEm's Review: Lacey lives with her mom and the ghost of her granddad (no, this isn’t paranormal fiction), but feels alone in the world. Since her Aunt Linda left, Lacey has had to serve as caretaker for her mother whose mental illness keeps her from living independently. But her mom has seemed better lately, and Lacey has convinced her to start working at the local grocery store. Lacey is excited to start a summer job of her own as well – at the library where her Aunt Linda used to work. On the first day of employment for Lacey and her mom, Lacey feels hopeful and excited – maybe she’ll even make a friend this summer. But as the day progresses, memories come flooding back, worry takes over, and the day turns from dream to nightmare.

I find stories – whether in book or movie form – that capture such a small time period in a character’s life, to be especially fascinating. In this case, while the story is centered on one day in Lacey’s life, we do get “more” from her via her memories of times past. Lacey is an interesting character in that she is so very alone. We learn about her through her thoughts, hopes, and memories. We are limited in what we can learn about her through her interactions with others because those interactions are few and far between. While she is able to take care of herself, it’s also clear that her mother’s mental illness has affected her (she too talks to the ghost that haunts her mother). And while my hope for her grew throughout the story, even as her hope for herself diminished, I came out at the end of the story not knowing how to feel – will she be ok? will she be emotionally or mentally scarred? will she be great? I just don’t know! But I like that. I like a book that leaves me wondering, imagining, questioning. This book was a quick read – albeit difficult at times – featuring a unique character on a day that proves to be a major turning point in her life but not in the way that she had hoped....more

This book was a hard one for me to read--there's a reason why my preferences in fiction run to lighter fare! This book follows 13-year-old Lacey Mills through an eventful 24 hours in her life. Lacey starts the day hopeful that things are on the mend for her and her mother, as her mother is about to start a real job at the grocery store and Lacey has a job at the local library. As the day progresses, however, we learn more about Lacey's background: about her mom's schizophrenia (or similar disordThis book was a hard one for me to read--there's a reason why my preferences in fiction run to lighter fare! This book follows 13-year-old Lacey Mills through an eventful 24 hours in her life. Lacey starts the day hopeful that things are on the mend for her and her mother, as her mother is about to start a real job at the grocery store and Lacey has a job at the local library. As the day progresses, however, we learn more about Lacey's background: about her mom's schizophrenia (or similar disorder) and cutting; the reason why her aunt left; and the fact that her mom believes that her father talks to her (even though he died before Lacey was born). As Lacey's day unravels, Lacy has to confront some unpleasant truths about her mother and her own history and find strength she doesn't know she has to cope. I found this book deeply disturbing--as I think Williams intended it to be. I also wasn't entirely sure about the ending: Lacey goes through an episode where it's not clear if something supernatural or psychotic is happening, and it seemed out of character for Lacey and threw me, as it also wasn't quite in keeping with the tone of the rest of the book. I also have mixed feelings about the voice--it was beautiful and well-done, but the voice itself seems middle-grade while the concept (and some of the stuff that goes down in the end) seems distinctly YA. I'm not sure who the book's target audience is. I have to say, if I were going to recommend a book for young readers on this topic, I'd prefer Claudia Mills' One Square Inch, which deals with a young boy's struggles with his manic-depressive mother. That also addresses mental illness, but in a way that's more appropriate for young readers (not so dark). ...more

Carol Lynch Williams is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite authors... Of her three published titles, I've read both GLIMPSE and MILES FROM ORDINARY and am completely in awe of both.

I feel the need to point out how very different GLIMPSE and MILES FROM ORDINARY are. Both are powerful, relatively short reads, but GLIMPSE is written in free verse and MILES FROM ORDINARY is written in traditional novel format. Williams' mastery of both forms astound me... Neither story is more or less detCarol Lynch Williams is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite authors... Of her three published titles, I've read both GLIMPSE and MILES FROM ORDINARY and am completely in awe of both.

I feel the need to point out how very different GLIMPSE and MILES FROM ORDINARY are. Both are powerful, relatively short reads, but GLIMPSE is written in free verse and MILES FROM ORDINARY is written in traditional novel format. Williams' mastery of both forms astound me... Neither story is more or less detailed or profound, the writing is fluid and each word seems chosen for a specific purpose.

MILES FROM ORDINARY is narrated by 13-year old Lacey, which, under normal circumstances, might bother me. Luckily, a novel by Williams doesn't count as "normal circumstances." Williams has the ability to write a novel with a 13-year old main character in which the character genuinely acts like a 13-year old, but the novel still feels YA not MG. When I read the descriptions of Williams' books and see the young age of the narrators, I don't even pause. I know that the character's age will not slow the plot of soften the book's message; Williams is definitely a YA author.

This novel definitely has a sinister edge. Williams hints at the drama in Lacey and her mother's life, revealing more and more as the novel progresses, building until the truth descends like a torrential downpour and there's no holding back the darkness.

I highly suggest you read MILES FROM ORDINARY and GLIMPSE... I'm left speechless each time I finish one of Williams' novels. The stories held within these covers are powerful and they need to be heard. I've also heard wonderful things about THE CHOSEN ONE, Williams' debut, and will be reading that as soon as possible. ...more

Lacey is filled with excitement and anxiety. Today is the first day of her volunteer job at the public library and her mother's first day as a checker at Winn-Dixie. Lacey can't wait to have some time out of the house - some time for herself.

Lacey has been the sole caretaker of her mother ever since her Aunt Linda was forced to leave a year ago. Lacey's mother's paranoia and depression has only gotten worse, leaving Lacey scared that her mother won't be able to manage her job outside the house,Lacey is filled with excitement and anxiety. Today is the first day of her volunteer job at the public library and her mother's first day as a checker at Winn-Dixie. Lacey can't wait to have some time out of the house - some time for herself.

Lacey has been the sole caretaker of her mother ever since her Aunt Linda was forced to leave a year ago. Lacey's mother's paranoia and depression has only gotten worse, leaving Lacey scared that her mother won't be able to manage her job outside the house, but with money quickly becoming an issue there isn't a choice.

Her day at the library didn't turn out of be the escape she expected it to be. Worries for her mother clouded her mind while she worked and thoughts of Aunt Linda continually creeped in. (Aunt Linda used to work at the library.) After a tiring day, Lacey returns to Winn-Dixie to pick up her mother to go home only to find her worst fears confirmed. Her mother didn't make it a day and has disappeared.

With the help of a new and surprising friend, Lacey begins to search for her mother. What she finds forces her to realize just how sick her mother has become.

MILES FROM ORDINARY is a page-turner. There was only one part at the end that bothered me, but the author pulled me back in before she lost me all together. The last few pages were fantastic. If the entire book had been written with that same level of intensity, I could have ranked it with her first novel, but as it is, this book is no where close to being as powerful as THE CHOSEN ONE....more

The cover really sucked me into this book; unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this book at all. Not only was this book creepy, I got annoyed at Lacey.

I don’t mind the creepiness at all. In fact I enjoy a few creepy books once in awhile, but this book did not hold my attention at all. The mother has a problem. I don’t know why Lacey didn’t tell anyone about it. She was very strong to be able to take care of her mom like that. She was mental. Ever since Lacy’s mom found her dad hanging in the closet shThe cover really sucked me into this book; unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this book at all. Not only was this book creepy, I got annoyed at Lacey.

I don’t mind the creepiness at all. In fact I enjoy a few creepy books once in awhile, but this book did not hold my attention at all. The mother has a problem. I don’t know why Lacey didn’t tell anyone about it. She was very strong to be able to take care of her mom like that. She was mental. Ever since Lacy’s mom found her dad hanging in the closet she has never gotten over it. Now after he has been dead for a couple of years, her mom still swears that she sees him and communicated with him.

Lacy’s aunt used to live in the house with them, until her mom kicked her out because her aunt was telling her mom that she could not see their dad, he was dead. Lacy and her aunt were very close, until her mom got a restraining order on her and Lacy never saw her aunt again. Although she could have called her any time she wanted, she never did. That’s what annoyed me. She could have kept in contact with her aunt. But instead never did, then when there was an emergency and she needed someone she called her aunt.

Obviously the family is messed up. What a life to live.

Thankfully this story was short; there were some parts where I was a little confused. Although I liked some parts of this book, I just couldn’t get into it. Sorry for all the rambling, this review is probably confusing. Carol Lynch Williams disappointed me this time. I loved her other book, The chosen one...more

My Thoughts: Miles from Ordinary was an extraordinary novel. I also read The Chosen One, I did like the Chosen One a bit more but Miles From Ordinary was a good novel. We are introduced to Lacey who is only 13 years old. She lives with her mother and basically takes care of her. She doesn't get out much so when she gets a job at the library while her mother also gets a job at the store, she is thrilled. She thinks it will be good for her mother to get out and do something. Lacey's aunt used to wMy Thoughts: Miles from Ordinary was an extraordinary novel. I also read The Chosen One, I did like the Chosen One a bit more but Miles From Ordinary was a good novel. We are introduced to Lacey who is only 13 years old. She lives with her mother and basically takes care of her. She doesn't get out much so when she gets a job at the library while her mother also gets a job at the store, she is thrilled. She thinks it will be good for her mother to get out and do something. Lacey's aunt used to work at the library so Lacey is happy to be doing something her aunt was happy to do. Her aunt left a while ago after her mother told her to get away.

Lacey also meets a sweet boy who takes the journey with her. He understands things pretty good for not knowing Lacey too well.

When Lacey gets off work the first day, she can't find her mom. She looks and looks, finally her aunt comes, and things go from there. I can't say much more or else I'll give the whole plot away. Honestly, this book was very emotional and a quick read, just as The Chosen One was. It was a very gripping story of her families troubles and her mother's illness.

Overall: I really liked Miles From Ordinary. It was very emotional and made me tear up a few times. Its not a book to be taken lightly.

Cover: Like it. Its a emotional cover even though there isn't much to it besides the girls face.

After reading the summary on this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. What was Lacey's Mother recovering from and what is Lacey worried about? Yet, as I read the book, I didn't worry about the reason so much and just enjoyed the writing that the author was telling.

Lacey is worried about starting her first day as a volunteer at the library. Her mother is also starting her first day of work at the local grocery store as a checker. As you read the book, you can feel the intensity of worry and anticAfter reading the summary on this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. What was Lacey's Mother recovering from and what is Lacey worried about? Yet, as I read the book, I didn't worry about the reason so much and just enjoyed the writing that the author was telling.

Lacey is worried about starting her first day as a volunteer at the library. Her mother is also starting her first day of work at the local grocery store as a checker. As you read the book, you can feel the intensity of worry and anticipation from both of the characters. You actually feel the pain that both characters are going through because of the beautiful way the author wrote the book.

At first I was a little confused about Granddaddy. I wasn't sure if he was a figment of the imagination or if he was a ghost that was haunting them. What is great about the writing is even if you are wondering these things, you don't really try to work them out in your head. You just simply accept what is written and keep going through the angst, drama, hope and love.

If you are looking for a book that will capture your interest, even without you realizing it, then this is the book. A great look into the world of mental illness and the effects that it can have on a family. Beautiful writing that will capture you from the first page up until the end....more

About the Author: Carol Lynch Williams, a two-time winner of the Utah Original Writing Competition, is the author of several books for children, including two novels about the Orton family of New Smyrna, Florida: Kelly and Me and Adeline Street. A starred School Library Journal review of The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson praises Williams as she "again demonstrates her facility at mood and chara

About the Author: Carol Lynch Williams, a two-time winner of the Utah Original Writing Competition, is the author of several books for children, including two novels about the Orton family of New Smyrna, Florida: Kelly and Me and Adeline Street. A starred School Library Journal review of The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson praises Williams as she "again demonstrates her facility at mood and character development... Truer colors are hard to come by."

Her most recent novel, If I Forget, You Remember, is a moving intergenerational story that stresses the bonds that hold families together through difficult times--a help since over 19 million Americans have a family member with Alzheimer's disease.